Shloka 17

रावणस्य परिव्राजकवेषेण सीतासमीपगमनम्

Ravana Approaches Sita Disguised as a Mendicant

Devanagari script

समाश्शिखरिणस्स्निग्धाः पाण्डुरा दशनास्तव।।।।विशाले विमले नेत्रे रक्तान्ते कृष्णतारके।

Transliteration

samāḥ śikhariṇaḥ snigdhāḥ pāṇḍurā daśanās tava | viśāle vimale netre raktānte kṛṣṇatārake || 3.46.17 ||

Translation

โอ้ผู้มีเนตรกว้างใส—ฟันของท่านเรียงเสมอ ปลายคม เป็นมันเงาและขาวผ่อง; ดวงตากว้างและบริสุทธิ์ มีขอบแดงเรื่อ และตาดำดำสนิท

Word by Word

• समाः: even
• समाः: कर्तृविशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; दशनाः-विशेषण

• शिखरिणः: pointed
• शिखरिणः: कर्तृविशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिखरिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; दशनाः-विशेषण; 'pointed/peaked'

• स्निग्धाः: smooth/shining
• स्निग्धाः: कर्तृविशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्निग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; दशनाः-विशेषण

• पाण्डुराः: pale-white
• पाण्डुराः: कर्तृविशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाण्डुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; दशनाः-विशेषण

• दशनाः: teeth
• दशनाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; nominal sentence)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तव: your
• तव: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; 2nd person pronoun

• विशाले: large
• विशाले: कर्तृविशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; नेत्रे-विशेषण

• विमले: clear/pure
• विमले: कर्तृविशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; नेत्रे-विशेषण

• नेत्रे: two eyes
• नेत्रे: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; nominal sentence)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• रक्त-अन्ते: red at the corners
• रक्त-अन्ते: कर्तृविशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; नेत्रे-विशेषण; तत्पुरुषः: रक्तः अन्तः यस्य (having red corners)

• कृष्ण-तारके: with dark pupils
• कृष्ण-तारके: कर्तृविशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + तारका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; नेत्रे-विशेषण; कर्मधारयः: कृष्णा तारका (pupil) यस्य

Context

Your teeth are even and pointed, white and beautiful.Your eyes are large and clear and sparkling with dark pupils with a red tinge at the corner.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

The verse underscores that ethical failure can begin with objectifying attention: admiration becomes adharma when it is driven by lust and used to violate another’s autonomy and marital fidelity.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa continues describing Sītā’s features in intimate detail as part of his attempt to charm and dominate the encounter.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s purity and beauty are described, but the deeper virtue implied is her steadfastness—she will not be swayed by such speech.